The availability of new cars in the UK with manual gearboxes has reached a 10-year low, reflecting a 57% decline since 2015. Research from CarGurus indicates that in 2025, there will be only 82 new models with manual transmissions from popular manufacturers, down from 192 in 2015. This represents an 8% decrease from 2024 and a 25% drop from 2023.
The number of manufacturers not offering manual options has also increased, now including Mercedes-Benz, Land Rover, Volvo, Tesla, MINI, and Lexus. Jaguar is pausing new car sales until its planned 2026 relaunch and has announced a shift to all-electric models.
A 2024 survey by CarGurus found that only 28% of respondents would miss manual gearboxes, highlighting a decline in demand for manual transmissions. At the current rate, CarGurus predicts that by 2037, no new models will offer manual gearboxes.
Emerging brands such as Polestar, BYD, and Leapmotor are growing their market share with automatic-only cars. Chris Knapman, CarGurus UK Editorial Director, noted that automatics have become standard features as the market shifts towards electric and premium vehicles.
For those who still value manual transmissions, options like the Honda Civic Type R and Mazda MX-5 are available, along with a robust selection of used manual vehicles, comprising 47% of listings on the CarGurus platform.
- For motorists who still prefer a manual transmission, CarGurus has published a guide to the best manual cars in 2025.
